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GEORGE TOWN: A trip to Langkawi for a group of lecturers and students from Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) turned into a nightmare after a concrete jetty gave way as they were crossing it, plunging 10 of them into the sea.
In the 1.50pm incident, a group of 40 tourists, including the group from UMK, had just arrived at Pulau Anak Tikus, a popular destination known as Fossil Island.
The Kilim Jetty is the main entry point for tourists to enter its famed geopark.
Langkawi Fire and Rescue Department officials say nine people escaped with minor injuries while another sustained a serious hip injury.
Passersby helped to save some of the victims before rescuers arrived.
A spokesman said those injured were taken to another jetty some five nautical miles away before being sent to the Langkawi Hospital for treatment.
Tourism Langkawi, a local tourism development organisation, said it was high time the authorities do a safety audit on all important places of interest.
Its chairman Ahmad Pishol Ishak said it had highlighted the condition of the jetty six years ago, but the authorities failed to take any action.
“When we highlight the problem, people say we are making too much noise. Now, this happens. The lives of Malaysians and foreigners are at risk.
“We need an urgent safety audit. Such incidents will badly affect tourism,” he told FMT.
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